1.

Appropriate literary theory

The literary theory feminist criticism is appropriate for studying this text because of how
the central character felt immense freedom and joy after knowing her husband’s death.
The text showed how women can feel trapped in patriarchy. Despite the grief she felt and
crying after hearing about her husband’s death, she has come to the realization that she
can now live for herself and not just for her husband. She has realized that she is now
free and she has all her life to enjoy her freedom and independence.
2. Central Character
The central character is Louise Mallard. Louise Mallard is someone who has heart
troubles. She is also someone who dedicates her life a lot to her husband, Brently
Mallard. She dedicated her life to her husband a lot to the point that she forgot living her
life for herself.
3. Central Conflict
The central conflict of the story is Brently Mallard's supposed death. Louise Mallard
broke down and wept upon hearing the tragic news. The conflict was later on resolved
when Louise had an epiphany after having some time alone. She saw the silver lining of
her husband's supposed death and has realized that she is now free from the binds of
marriage.
4. Meaning of the last line of the story
The last line of the story meant that Louise Mallard has died because of too much joy
upon knowing that she is finally free. As mentioned on the text earlier, Louise Mallard
has a heart trouble. Like most cases of heart troubles, intense feelings and emotions are
advised to be avoided as these can cause serious danger to the person. The amount of joy
and independence that she embraced were too much for her heart to handle causing her
sudden death.
5. Significant of the time story was written and its influence on the story
During the time of writing The Story of an Hour, the author of the short story, Kate
Chopin, was already widowed. Kate moved back to St. Louis with her mother after
running her deceased husband's general store and plantation. She wrote novels and
short stories to pay debts and expenses. These influences can be seen in the text through
the freedom that Louise felt. Both Louise and Kate has embraced their independence
after the death of their husbands. Both of them lived for their selves after living for their
husbands when they were still alive.